Penalties

There are a lot of different infractions that can be called during a hockey game. These infractions are called penalties and usually end up with the player going to the penalty box for a finite amount of time. This amount of time depends on the nature of the infraction as well as the league in which you play.

There are 2 types of penalties, minor and major. For a minor penalty, the time passed in the penalty box is 2 minutes (3 minutes running time). As for a major infraction, it usually results in a 5 minute penalty (7 for running time) and often times a suspension of one game, depending on the infraction committed.

A third options exists in some cases: the penalty shot. A penalty shot is called when a player would have a clear chance for a breakaway (alone against the goaltender) but is obstructed from doing so by another player. The puck is then placed at center ice, the obstructed player takes the puck and attempts to score on the goaltender. Meanwhile, all other players must be at their bench and cannot interfere with the penalty shot. Once the penalty shot is over, play resumes via a faceoff at center ice, if the player scored, or by a faceoff beside the goaltender if the penalty shot was unsuccessful.

Delay of game: a player/coach purposely delaying the resuming of the game. In the NHL, whenever a player shoots the puck over the glass in his/her defensive zone, without the puck either being redirected or touching the glass, a delay of game penalty is assessed to that player.

Face-off violation: when the linesman/referee decides that the players on the ice for one of the team are not acting properly (e.g. the wingers are not positioned properly), he/she will remove the player taking the face-off and another player on the ice will take his/her place. If this happens twice for the same team on the same face-off, a penalty is called for face-off violation.

Falling on(or holding) the puck: a player deliberately falling on/holding the puck to prevent players from the opposing team to touch it. The player can fall on the puck accidentally, but he/she has to try to get him/herself up without too much of a delay. A player can also swat the puck with his/her gloves in the defensive zone, but he/she cannot close his/her hand on it.

High stick: hitting a player of the opposing team above his/her elbows with your stick.

Hit to the head: hitting an opponent in the head is now considered an infraction in th eNHL. The referee can decide if the hit deserves a minor or major penalty. Furthermore, the league may decide to suspend the player for an amount of games depending on the severity of the hit and that player's past history.

Hitting from behind: body checking an opponent when his/her back is towards you.

Holding: using your arms or any other part of your body to hold an opponent and restrain him/her from playing the game.

Holding the stick: holding the stick of your opponent using a part of your body.

Hooking: using your stick to "hook" or to impede the movement of a player from the opposing team.

Butt-ending: using the tip of hockey stick closest to the upper hand to hit/jab an opponent.

Fighting: removing your gloves and fighting with a player of the opposing team.

Leaving the (player/penalty) bench: when a player exits either the player bench or penalty bench to go and fight. Even if the player leaving one of the benches does not fight, exiting the bench when a fight occurs is considered a penalty.

Spearing: using your hockey stick to spear/thrust into the other players body.